The Burland House was the home of Dr. W. H. Burland and his family. Burland was a doctor and also the first mayor of the City of Punta Gorda. The Burlands purchased the land in 1898 and lived there until 1907. This house is a Victorian sub-type known as a shingle home. Unlike most 19th century styles, the shingle home does not emphasize decorative detailing at the doors, windows, corners, porches, or on the wall surfaces. Instead, it aims for the effect of a complex shape enclosed within a smooth surface to unify the irregular outline of the house. An interesting feature of the shingle home is the lack of interruption at the corner: There are no corner boards. Note the patterned wood shingles in the front gable area, a tell-tale feature of Victorian architecture.
